Seeing stars in Israel

Friday, May 19, 2006 |

They’re baaaaaack!

Thanks to a few solid years of minimal terror attacks, musical artists and Hollywood stars have apparently decided it is safe to resume pilgrimages to the Holy Land. After years of famine, the concert line-up for the next year is chock-full, including Sting, Pink Floyd and rapper 50 Cent. Kelly Clarkson almost made it to Israel, but cancelled her Tel Aviv concert due to a sore throat

Ricky Martin and Black Eyed Peas are scheduled to perform on the same date at different venues. Martin will perform in Ra’anana’s Amphi-Park on June 3, producer Marcel Abraham said at a press conference. Martin’s performance in Israel will be the last stop on his world tour where he will then return to Spain and work on his new album. While in Israel, Martin intends to spend three days visiting Israeli friends and learning about Israeli culture, and of course a visit to the Western Wall.

Ultra-Orthodox rapper Matisyahu (Matthew Miller) is to open for Sting on June 8 at the Ramat Gan Stadium, and rock icon Madonna, who visits the Holy Land often and is a known follower of Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, is rumored to be performing in concert in Israel, later this summer.

And its not just performances. Israelis have gotten some sneak peaks at celebrities actually vacationing in the Land including actors Will Smith, Ewan MacGregor and Jim Carrey. Carrey’s agents even hired an Israeli double of the movie funny man and leaked word of his whereabouts to the press while the real Carrey took in the sights, paparazzi-free!

This procession of the rich and famous to Israel is a boon for entertainment-starved Israelis, who have been neglected by world tours since the Palestinian terror war erupted in September 2000.

Want more news from Israel?Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates